Easter reminds us that life never ends and love never dies. All are invited to join us for a Lenten season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help us prepare for the joy of Our Risen Lord during Easter! Please see below for more information:
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 22nd
6:30am Word Service with distribution of Ashes at QR
8:15am Mass of the Day with distribution of Ashes at SJE
11:00am to 1:00pm Drive-Up Ashes at Tasty Catering (1900 Touhy, Elk Grove Village)
12:15pm Word Service with distribution of Ashes at SJE
4:00pm Evening Mass with distribution of Ashes at SJE
7:00pm Evening Mass with distribution of Ashes at QR
Stations of the Cross
Prayed weekly on Fridays at 6:00pm followed by a light Lenten supper:
February 24th, March 3rd, March 10th at QR
March 17th, March 24th, March 31st at SJE
Parish Lenten Mission
Body of Christ, Broken for the World
Monday, March 20th - Wednesday, March 22nd
7:00pm at SJE
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 2nd
5:00pm Saturday (April 1st) Anticipated Liturgy with distribution of Palms at SJE
8:00am with distribution of Palms at QR
9:15am with distribution of Palms at SJE
10:30am with distribution of Palms at QR
Holy Week
Monday, April 3rd to Wednesday, April 5th
Daily Mass will be celebrated as usual on Holy Monday (SJE), Holy Tuesday (QR)
and Holy Wednesday (SJE) at 8:15am. On Holy Thursday (QR), Good Friday (SJE)
and Holy Saturday (QR) we will have in-person morning prayer at 8:15am.
Please note: Parish Offices will be closed on Good Friday, April 7th, and Easter Monday, April 10th.
Triduum
Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper
April 6th
7:00pm at SJE
Friday of the Lord’s Passion
April 7th
3:00pm Good Friday Service at QR
7:00pm Living Stations at SJE
Holy Saturday
April 8th
10:00am Blessing of Food Baskets at SJE
7:30pm Easter Vigil Mass at QR
Resurrection of the Lord
Sunday, April 9th
8:00am QR
9:15am SJE
10:30am QR
Faith in Action. Your gift at Easter and all year long supports the important ministry of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and allows us to continue bringing healing, hope and hospitality to our parish family and the greater community.
Follow this link to donate now or mail (OLBS, 601 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007) or drop off your Easter donation at church in a marked Easter envelope (if you did not receive an Easter envelope in the mail, simply mark any envelope EASTER). Thank you for your generosity!
Speaking of prayer, Pope Francis says, “Christian prayer, like all Christian life, is not a ‘walk in the park.’ None of the great people of prayer we meet in the Bible and in the history of the Church found prayer ‘comfortable.’ Yes, one can pray like a parrot [repeat memorized prayer from rote] but that is not prayer. Prayer certainly gives great peace, but through inner struggle, at times hard, which can accompany even long periods of life.” But, the Holy Father also reminds us that, “Prayer works miracles, because prayer goes directly to the heart of the tenderness of God, who cares for us like a father.”
Building an intentional habit of prayer can inspire, challenge, encourage, strengthen and grow our relationship with the Lord. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament offers resources and opportunities for prayer during Lent to help us build that intentional habit.
Grab a copy of “Messages of Healing for Lent 2023: 3-Minute Devotions” in our vestibules to guide you from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. Practical, everyday wisdom from Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran will help you acknowledge the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and relational wounds in your life and open your heart to the healing only Jesus can offer. Booklets will also have a 2023 Lent & Easter Schedule bookmark so you'll be in the know on all the Lent & Easter happenings here at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
This year’s Lenten Mission is Body of Christ, Broken for the World: The Eucharistic Revival and You. The Mission will be held Monday, March 20th to Wednesday, March 22nd at St. Julian Eymard and will begin nightly at 7:00pm. Follow this link to discover more. All are invited!
Stations of the Cross, during Lent is a powerful way to connect with the suffering of Jesus and to deepen our spiritual life. It is an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which we too are called to make sacrifices and to serve others, following in the example of Jesus. Join Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament each Friday for Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm, followed by a light Lenten supper. Download the schedule here or see the complete schedule in our vestibules or check the bulletin and eNews each week.
Fasting during Lent is a practice that involves abstaining from certain foods or limiting the amount of food eaten. We observe this practice as a way to prepare for Easter and to deepen our spiritual life.
During Lent, Catholics aged 18-59 and in reasonable health are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means that we can have one full meal and two smaller meals that, when combined, do not equal the size of the full meal. Additionally, we are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent.
The purpose of fasting during Lent is not to punish the body, but to discipline it in order to focus more on spiritual matters. By denying ourselves certain foods or limiting the amount we eat, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by Jesus and the importance of spiritual nourishment.
While fasting during Lent is required for certain days, some Catholics may choose to fast voluntarily throughout the season. This can take many forms, such as giving up a favorite food or drink, limiting screen time, or committing to daily acts of charity.
Overall, fasting during Lent is a meaningful practice that helps us prepare for Easter and deepen our relationship with God.
Almsgiving, or the act of giving to those in need, is an important practice during the season of Lent. Helping those in need—providing food, shelter, clothing and other necessities to those who would otherwise go without—is one way we reflect the generosity of God and in turn grow closer to Him. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament has chosen Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Welcome the Stranger for our parish-wide Lenten Almsgiving project. Please follow this link to discover more.
Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Ottenstein at (847) 979-0901 x1007 or maryellen@olbsegv.org.